Hundreds apply for federal flood aid
Published 10:32 pm Wednesday, December 12, 2007
SEATTLE — Individuals, businesses and public agencies in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties have filed more than 1,600 requests for federal storm damage recovery aid.
All requests now total $90 million in damage, according to a news release Tuesday from Susan Reinertson, regional administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
She and other officials have urged residents and business owners with storm damage to register for aid if they have not already done so.
“We know there are undoubtedly many more who need the aid,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, adjutant general of the Washington National Guard and director of the state Military Department.
Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Mason and Pacific counties were declared major disaster areas Saturday, making federal aid available to state and local government agencies and some nonprofit organizations but not to individuals.
The next day, amid mounting pressure from state leaders and Washington state’s congressional delegation, the Bush administration issued an expanded declaration providing aid to individuals and businesses in Grays Harbor and Lewis counties, which were hit hardest by high winds, heavy rain and flooding last week.
The maximum amount of federal aid is $28,800 for each uninsured household, plus low-interest federal loans.
State legislators from Thurston County, which borders on both Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, heard emotional tales from flood victims Tuesday in Rochester who lost their homes. The lawmakers promised to ask Gov. Chris Gregoire to push for adding their county to the individual relief list.
“This is just tragic,” said state Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia. “Thurston County should be part of the federal aid. Political boundaries shouldn’t decide this.”
